Time Capsule Blinking Amber. What to do?

Hi Guys,
So I've been away from my home for the last 3 months, and on my return, my Time Capsule is blinking amber and my Mac cannot see the Capsule at all. I use my TC also as a Hard drive space too. I'm afraid that if I unplug my TC and hold the reset button, it'll wipe the drive or something. Has anyone had this issue before? How would one fix this? I'd hate to lose my data that I already have on it. My Airport Utility doesn't see the TC either. Please Help!! Anyone. Thanks Guys.

When AirPort Utility cannot find the device after multiple tries and methods, the next logical step is to hard reset the Time Capsule and reconfigure the settings. To do this, make sure the TC is powered on and then hold in the reset button until the amber light blinks quickly. This usually will take 5-7 seconds on average.
Power down the TC and computer, connect the ethernet cable between the computer and one of the LAN ports on the TC and open AirPort Utility to see if the TC can now be seen.
If that doesn't work, the only other option is to reset the TC back to factory defaults and try the configuration again. To do the factory default reset:
Power down the Time Capsule
Hold in the reset button and keep holding it in as you plug the power back in
Release the reset button after approx 10 seconds.
Connect the ethernet cable as above and give that a try.

Similar Messages

Time capsule blinking amber and my wireless network has vanished after factory reset

Hello,
I have an Apple Macbook aluminum body with a Motorola cable modem hooked up to the Time Capsule which acts as my router. After turning the power off in my home, the internet has not been working. The light on the TC was green, but I had no internet because Airport had a "self-assigned" IP address and may not be able to connect to the internet. Then, I decided to do a hard reset and restore my setting to factory. The light on the TC is blinking amber. When I go into Airport Utility, it gives me this message: "Airport Utility was unable to find any Airport wireless devices". On top of all this, when I did the hard reset, my wifi network is not on the list of Airport networks in my range. It has completely disappeared. I have all the wires connected properly to the router and TC. Please help, this scenario is very frustrating.

If you performed a factory default reset, the TC is now broadcasting a wireless network with a name like Apple Network xxxxxx, where the "x" could be either a letter or number.
You must first log on to this wireless network (there is no security or password) and establish a connection.
Then, if the TC was reset properly, you will be able to open AirPort Utility and re-configure the TC.
When you click Update to save your configuration settings, the TC will "dsiappear" from AirPort Utility. This is normal. Close AirPort Utility and wait for the TC to restart.
Then log on to the "new" wireless network that you named during the configuration.

Why is my time capsule blinking yellow?

why is my time capsule blinking yellow?

The Time Capsule is complaining about something.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the amber dot and another window will open to explain what the Time Capsule is whining about....along with suggested actions to remedy the situation.

Time Capsule flashes amber and loses connection at least once a day

Hello,
I got my Time Capsule a month ago. I had an old one from 2008 which I gave to a friend, so it was time to upgrade. I have no idea what's going on, but the Time Capsule flashes amber and I lose my Internet connection at least once a day, sometimes two or three times within a few hours.
Is anyone else experiencing this? Any idea how to fix it?
If it matters, I'm on a mid-2010 MBP running OS X 10.8.5.
Thanks!

You and everyone else.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5140686?tstart=0
It is not stable firmware.. or has issues .. with some modems.. or is just faulty.. pick one or two choices.
There is no fix because this is really a bug.

New 2TB Time Capsule: solid amber light, but TC working well...what's wrong?

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me...thanks in advance for reading through this question!
I have a brand new 2TB Time Capsule, using it with the AT&T U-verse modem/router 3801 HGV.
After much consternation, I finally got the TC set up in bridge mode with the U-verse router.
The TV, phone, and internet are all working well through AT&T...and my wireless internet
connection through the TC is working great as well. Also, the TC is performing the first
back up of my MacBook Pro hard drive. Everything seems to be working great, I think.
However, I have some questions that I feel need to be addressed:
1- The light on the TC is solid AMBER, not green. When I check the connections in the Airport
Utility, all indicator lights on my screen are green, and the "dot" beside the TC icon is green.
Solid amber indicates that the "Time Capsule is completing its start-up sequence". I would expect
the start-up sequence to be completed long ago and the light to be green...and I can't find anything
wrong.
Any ideas as to why the light on the TC could be solid amber??
2- What should I do to get the light to be green??
3- I have no idea of the speed of the back-up, and what it should be. I have about 190GB of data
to back up. I totally understand that it takes many hourse for the first back-up. It looks like the
speed I'm seeing is changing frequently, and it's backed up about 3.5GB in about 20 minutes or so.
Is that a fairly "normal" speed?? I just want to make sure my configuration is good.
4- I'd like to set up a "guest" wireless network with an easier password...I had done it earlier when
the connections were not working and perhaps I accidentally removed it when updating to "bridge"
mode. To set up a new network, do I just write over the info in the fields when I get to "Wireless"
tab in the Airport Utility?? The info from my "home" network populates those fields now, and I
just don't want to risk overwriting the info and losing that network.
Does the TC "add" a new wireless network when I add new data in those fields...and SAVE the
original "home" network I created?? Just making sure!
Thanks to those who reply!
Chris

1- The light on the TC is solid AMBER, not green. When I check the connections in the Airport Utility, all indicator lights on my screen are green, and the "dot" beside the TC icon is green.
That is weird.. most TC I look at solid AMBER means the hard disk is dead. Not sure but since it is working it is no biggie.. there is some control over how the led functions.. but I doubt you can set the color different.
In other words.. not a clue.. if the TC is new take it to the genius and show them.. that is not the way it is supposed to work.
3- I have no idea of the speed of the back-up, and what it should be. I have about 190GB of data
to back up. I totally understand that it takes many hourse for the first back-up. It looks like the
speed I'm seeing is changing frequently, and it's backed up about 3.5GB in about 20 minutes or so.
Is that a fairly "normal" speed?? I just want to make sure my configuration is good.
Over wireless expect slow.. you did not state wireless or wired.. but those look like reasonable wireless speed. your files will load at different speed.. small files are slow.. larger files much faster.. it takes time to write the tables for many smaller files.
We always recommend first backup over ethernet.. even if the TC is pulled out of the network.
4- I'd like to set up a "guest" wireless network with an easier password...I had done it earlier when
the connections were not working and perhaps I accidentally removed it when updating to "bridge"
mode. To set up a new network, do I just write over the info in the fields when I get to "Wireless"
tab in the Airport Utility?? The info from my "home" network populates those fields now, and I
just don't want to risk overwriting the info and losing that network.
Guest network is removed as an option in bridge mode.. just use the uverse modem wireless for guest.

Time capsule flashes amber before setup, when I input the network info it keeps saying "an unexpected error occured, please try again". Already tried 10 times, even resetting, same thing keeps happening... What to do?

When I open my airport utility it detects the time capsule, but when I set everything up (name, choose the internet connection, etc) it takes a minutes, says waiting for time capsule... And then "an unexpected error occured, please try again". I tried 10 times, the same thing keeps happening... On top of that the orange light keeps blinking as soon as i turn it on. Tried to reset it also. Doesn't change a thing...

Sorry you have had such a bad first impression..
Is the ipv6 turned on? This was an after thought as they seem to have released both firmware and utility and woken up after the event to the fact they actually needed ipv6 on to manage it.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4597
Otherwise I don't see what you are using to connect to the TC from the iMac.. is it wired or wireless??
Can I suggest you do the setup again.
This time use ethernet to the TC.. in full isolation from the network. And do the setup manually.
You may need to factory reset again.. sorry about that .. and start over.. only the Mac plugged into the TC.. nothing else.
You may need further help just post where you get up to and we can sort out what is happening from there.
This often works easier at the start from the airport utility in iphone or ipad if you have one.

First time startup- Blinking amber light. Not sure what to do.

So I just got my airport express and when i first started getting the airport utility downloaded for windows xp, i used my modem (time warner ubee modem) ethernet cable and all but I am just getting a blinking amber light. I don't know if it hasn't configured if I need to wait longer for to initally start. I am kind of derp when it comes to networking, so..

A persistent, flashing amber light indicates that any of the several potential conditions may require your attention:
The base station has not yet been configured because it is new, or the reset switch has been set.
You have selected a security configuration that is not recommended.
One of several other conditions, such as a disconnected Ethernet cable or invalid IP address has been detected.
(ref: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305101)
If you run the AirPort Utility, it will show an amber circle on the summary page next to the area(s) causing the problem. Click on this amber circle and it should provide an explanation. Please post back your findings.

Time Capsule blinks yellow,when I go to airport utility to set up, it Says This apple wi-fi bse station doesn't have any DNS server addresses and might have trouble connecting to internet. My internet works, but I can't back up anything. What do I do??

Worked fine for about a couple of weeks after my son -law installed the time capsule. I can access the Internet both from my wife's I phone and from my desktop. I think that I need to get the DNS server numbers and put them in the two blanks; but where do I get them? Thanks, Jim

If the modem is also a router, either use the modem in bridge and run pppoe client on the TC.. that is assuming ADSL or similar eg vdsl. If it is cable service.. and the modem is a router, then bridge the TC.. go to internet page and select connect by ethernet and below that set connection sharing to bridge.
Please tell us more about the modem if the above gives you issues.

I have just got an Airport time Capsule for back up how do I do it? Do I put the ethernet cable into the back of my sky hub because when I do that the amber light on my Time Capsule flashes amber. Please talk in simple terms as I am a

I have just got an Apple Airport time capsule to back up my one year old iMac......how do I do it? I have tried putting an ethernet cable into the time capsule and to my sky hub, all I get is a flashing amber light, can anyone help I am a silver surfer not used to Apple products, but love them, plus I don't understand half of the jargon....HELP please

Apple's Setup Guide for the Time Capsule is pretty simple and clear for most users, and you don't indicate at what point or step that you are getting stuck.
So, please go to page 8 in your Setup Guide to review the topic of Plugging In Your AirPort Time Capsule.
The Sky hub will likely have 4 Ethernet <--> ports on the back of the device. Pick any one that you want and connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the port that you choose.
Then, connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the WAN (circle of dots) port as shown in the Setup Guide.
Continuing with the instructions on page 8 of the Setup Guide, power up the Time Capsule by connecting the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule to a wall AC jack.
Note that the instructions indicate that the indicator light will be solid amber during startup, and it will change to blinking amber during the setup. The light will remain blinking amber until you have configured the Time Capsule at which time the light will turn green.
Next, go to page 12 of the Setup Guide to see the information to Use your Mac or iOS device to set up your AirPort Time Capsule.
You indicated in your tag line that you were using OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), and since that will exceed the minimum requirement of a Mac using OS X (10.7.5) as noted in the guide, you can use your Mac to set up the Time Capsule.
Continuing with the instructions on page 12 of the Setup Guide......
1. Open AirPort Utility on your Mac. It is located as follows: Finder (the smiley face on the dock) > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
2. Select your AirPort Time Capsule and click Continue. You won't be able to do this, but read further......If you do not see the AirPort Time Capsule that you want to configure, choose it from the WiFi status menu in the menu bar, at the top of the screen.
So, clicking on the WiFi icon will yield a small window that looks like this:
The example below shows an AirPort Extreme. You will see Time Capsule on your screen. Click on Time Capsule.
When you click on Time Capsule, that will get the setup wizard going. it will take a minute to analyze the network, then display a screen that looks similar to the illustration below, except that you will see a picture of a Time Capsule on your screen
3. Continuing with the Setup Guide.......Follow the onscreen prompts to create a new network
Network Name...........Type in a simple name that you want to call your network. Do not use the suggested name.
Base Station Name....Type in a simple name that you want to call the Time Capsule. Mine is TC, for example.
Password...................Type in a password that will be used for both the network and the Time Capsule. Write that down.
Verify..........................Type in the password again to Verify
Click Next
The setup wizard will configure everything for you. When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.
The Time Capsule is now set up and it will display a green light.

Time capsule dies? What then?

Using 2010 1 TB Time Capsule & Time Machine 1.3 to back up my 2010 MacBook Pro. Faithfull for 3 years.
Thank the lord that I also have a 2nd 2Tb external drive that also backs up the MacBook Pro with TIme Machine
The amber light on the Time Capsule is blinking at me.
I got a message 2 days ago that said better back up the TIme Capsule. It's failing.
Now I get the message, That Time Machine did verification of backups on Time Casule, but needs to create a new backup.
Well guess what
My 1 TB Time Capsule has 995 Gb free! Looks like it's already dumped all my old backups.
Should I:
1. Assume my Time Capsule's near dead and take it to the Apple store to try and save the backups that are on it but not showing?
2. Just go ahead and let Time Capsule and Time Machine create a new backup overnight tonight? Surely overriding any recoverable data that's hiding somewhere on the Time Capsule
3. Follow the Apple help note and "If you back up to a Time Capsule, check the Apple Support website to be sure you have the most current available firmware." Where do I find out which firmwear I have now and if it's the current one? Could this be my problem?
Only 77 Gb remaining on the MacBook Pro Hard 500 Gb hard drive. I think it's slowing everything down on the computer.
What should I do?
Steve

When you upgrade to Mavericks it can do nasty things to your backups if you allowed it to continue backing up.. and then has subsequently corrupted itself.
I got a message 2 days ago that said better back up the TIme Capsule. It's failing.
I have never seen that message.. it would be good to have it exactly. My guess is it said something like the backups are needing to be verified.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html A5.. but lots of posts about the issues with corrupted or deleted backups.
Please do a verify now. My suspicion is that Mavericks has helped you decide by wiping it on your behalf.. he always was a card sharp.
1. Assume my Time Capsule's near dead and take it to the Apple store to try and save the backups that are on it but not showing?
apple do not do recovery.. they replace bad TC under warraty with refubished ones. No warranty left on yours as it is more than 3years old.
2. Just go ahead and let Time Capsule and Time Machine create a new backup overnight tonight? Surely overriding any recoverable data that's hiding somewhere on the Time Capsule
You cannot recover the old backup without removing the drive, and using a recovery software ($99 expense) which won't work. TM backups once corrupted cannot be recovered.
3. Follow the Apple help note and "If you back up to a Time Capsule, check the Apple Support website to be sure you have the most current available firmware." Where do I find out which firmwear I have now and if it's the current one? Could this be my problem?
The version of the firmware will make no difference.
You can find it on the airport utility.. click the TC and it is shown right there.
Only 77 Gb remaining on the MacBook Pro Hard 500 Gb hard drive. I think it's slowing everything down on the computer.
What should I do?
Well don't use the TC as a file store .. that is for sure.. as you can see it is not reliable.
A USB drive plugged into the Mac.. (or fw800 better or thunderbolt excellent) and use that for the excess files.. or learn to live with a leaner machine and transfer your work over to a desktop. The external drive can then be backed up by Time Machine.. you can plug a larger disk into the TC USB port or even open it and replace the 1TB with 2TB or 3TB drive.

Time Capsule Flashing Amber - Macbook Doesn't Scan It

here's the situation:
i just moved. at my old place i used the time capsule exclusively as an external hard drive and not a wireless router. i had it connected to my router wirelessly though. in my new place i want to make the time capsule the router and set up a network with it. however once i plugged it into the wall it gives me that lovely flashing amber light on the front. nothing i do makes it go away.
i've tried the reset button. i've tried holding that down while scanning with the airport utility. i've tried unplugging the time capsule. i've looked at every thread on the apple support boards, this forum, google, the manual. i cannot get this time capsule to not flash amber.
my macbook pro does not see it when i use the airport utility so i can't even troubleshoot it from there. can someone please explain to me what i'm supposed to do?

Hi Jentonola
If your network is up and you have Internet access, the flashing yellow light is probably an indication that a software update is available for Airport Utility.
Open Applications, then open Utilities, and finally Airport Utility.
Click AirPort Utility at the top left of the screen and select Check for Updates.

My time capsule just quit, what could it be

anyone? what about all my files?

Quit is rather inexact.
Do you mean it is now non-operational and the front LED is off?
If so that is standard fare for the TC that are >3years old. It will need fixing of the power supply.
https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modem s/apple-time-capsule-repair
Or pull out the hard disk and place it in a usb holder.. and pull out the files.
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Apple_Time_Capsule
Is it solid amber on the front LED.
That is bad.. the hard disk could be dead as well as the power supply.
Did you try just allowing it several hours to cool down? See if it then boot ok. They do just overheat at times.
How old is the TC?
What model from the rubber base A1xxx?

Time Capsules solid amber, can't connect or see with airport utility

Yesterday, my internet (both wired and wireless on different computers) suddenly went down. My network could not be found. This happened 2-3 times with outages of about 5-10 minutes each. Later, it went down and hasn't come back up since. I have two TIme Capsules on the same network and both simultaneously went solid amber. Additionally, plugging my MBP into the primary time capsule via ethernet does not reveal the TC in airport utility. My internet is fine as I can connect to my modem via ethernet just fine. This is what I have tried...
- deleting the system config folder
- unplugging time capsules
- restarting my computers (currently 6 macs on the network).
Not sure if this matters, but my computer that is connected wired normally, was just updated to Snow Leopard. I haven't updated the others yet.
Please help! I can't get my work done without this. Thanks

Hello okiska. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
under system preferences is says "airport is connected to the network", and Airport utility says "your apple wireless device does not have a valid IP address".
What these are telling you is that your MacBook Pro is connecting to the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS), but the AEBS is not "communicating" with the modem.
I suggest a complete power recycle of your network components to get things working again.
Try the following, in order, checking for Internet access after each step, until resolved:
1. If the modem has a reset switch, use it to reset the modem. Wait at least 5-10 minutes for the modem to initialize.
2. Remove power from the modem. If it has a backup battery, remove this as well. Wait 5-10 minutes. Replace the battery, and add power back to the modem.
3. Perform a complete power recycle of your network components as follows:
Modem/Router Power Recycling - Quick
o Power-off the modem, AEBS, & computer(s); Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the modem; Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the AEBSn; Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the computer(s)
If this fails to get the modem to "recognize" the Internet router, then try the "Full" version.
Modem/Router Power ReCycling - Full
o Power-off the modem, AEBS, & computer(s). (Wait at least 30 minutes. If possible, leave the modem off overnight.)
o Power-on the modem; Wait at least 15 minutes.
o Power-on the AEBS; Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the computer(s)
4. Contact your ISP to have them perform a "modem reset."

Time capsule blinking yellow

My time capsule will not stop blinking yellow

It can mean anything.. you need to look at your airport utility and find what the list of items is under the yellow dot.. or in 5.6 utility under status.

Time Capsule Blinking Orange when iMac off

I have my time capsule plugged in via USB and the wireless mode off - its just used for videos which is fine until I turn my iMac off and then it blinks its light orange to mean theres a problem....
Anyone any idea why and how to make it stop? When its switched on the light is green

When the TC is in a flashing amber condition, open AirPort Utility and click the TC to select it on the left and then click Manual Setup.
On the summary page of settings, click on the word "Status" and a message will appear to offer information about the "error".
It may be a notice that the TC does not have an internet connection. If you don't use it to connect to the internet, you can click "ignore" and the light should stay green at all times.
I'm not that familiar with iTunes, so you may want to start a new thread for that issue if you don't see responses on this thread.

Time Capsule Blinking Amber. What to do?

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